People keep asking me if I want to meet the recipient of my kidney. I don't know. What would I expect from such a meeting? The scenario in my head is rather pleasant, where we like each other right away, the recipient is gracious and grateful, I am gracious and kind, and everyone loves everyone. But really, what are the chances of a group of real people doing exactly what I imagine them doing?
Realistically, I'm not sure what I can expect. I think I can expect to see a sick person who wants to get well. But they could resent me for having a choice about donation, where they have no choice. They could feel angry if I don't measure up to their expectations. A child could be simply too terrified to care anything about a donor at all. Spouses or parents of the recipient could be upset that have to watch their loved one suffer, and see me only as a walking kidney machine. So much could go wrong.
But so much could go right. A donor could be happy to have a chance at a more normal life. They could be genuinely appreciative of the risk I'm taking. They could be delightful, funny, brilliant, and charming.
What do you think? If it were you, what would you do? Please post comments or send me a message with opinions and thoughts.
I would be prepared to ... believe in the best from them, that they would be gracious and grateful, joyful that a person could be so giving as to take a chance on their life by giving enough to save their loved one, while knowing them not at all. Bobbie
ReplyDelete